Chapter Four

(o shit, I left out the part of them going to find merry and pippin! how could I!! lets just assume they arrived... sorry about that. But them entering the story doesn't really pertain to the plot, so its alright... i hope. They might still be in the story, but bare with me.)

After a long ride upon his horse, Will and the rest of the Rohirrim found Edoras. It looked just as it was described in the book. Its palace stood upon the top of a large hill, the rest of the city surrounding it. And on the other side of the hill lay a glorious view of the mountains.

After the city had first come into site, it was a short ride to arrive there. The people in the city rejoiced when the soldiers entered, because it brought forth the idea that their army was unstoppable.

While passing through the city, the army eventually died to a trickle because men had traveled different roads to find their waiting families, many who had not seen them for months thanks to Wormtounge, who had banished them for being loyal to their country.

Will had no where to go, so followed the main party of Theoden, Eomer, Gandalf, Aragorn, Gimili, and Legolas all the way to the palace.

After finally dismounting the horses, Eomer pulled him aside, "Come here, boy. I have not convinced King Theoden to allow you to stay in the palace with us. He is wary of all those he does not know thanks given to Wormtongue. But he has suggested that we find a family willing to take you in for a few nights, maybe a family who has lost a loved one and has a bed to spare."

"What? I, I mean that would be kind of them, but I would rather sleep out on the streets then intrude on a family in grieving by sleeping in one of their family members beds..."

Eomer gave him a look of understanding, but spoke none the less, "They have already agreed. I will show you to their home after a meal. They should still be awake. It is hard to sleep with out nightmares when someone you love has died." The new heir to the thrown turned towards the palace, and walked up the stairs.

'What was up with that!' Will thought, beginning to follow Eomer. He didn't want to take this persons bed. It was like saying to the family 'I have no loved ones who would grieve my death, but I'll take the bed of the one who died and who has people who care for him'. To Will, it just didn't seem right.

The food in the palace was amazing. Chicken and beef had been cooked that no one in the modern world has yet to have matched in taste or appearance. But the meal was too short for Wills liking, and soon Eomer had whisked him away to the place he was to stay.

Eomer brought him down the hill a bit, till they reached a run down wood house with much noise coming from the inside. Children's voices, along with parents and adolescent voices were heard in the mix. The minute Eomer knocked on the door, the home became quiet and a women of maybe forty years answered the door, a broad smile on her face, and a child of about five years old asleep on her shoulder.

"My lord" she said, bowing her head slightly, unable to bow completely do to the skinny boy she was holding.

"Trefa, daughter of Trufer?" Eomer asked, wanting to be sure he'd gotten the right home.

"That is I. Is this the lad you'd spoken about?" she said, nodding her head at Will.

"Tis."

"Then come on lad, its late, and none of my family could sleep till they met the man who'd be livin' with us and who'd fought in the war. Come in now, you don't want to catch a chill."

Will glanced at Eomer, who grinned at him, before nodding him off and leaving.

The small house was packed with children, and two adults. Four boys and three girls all lay close to the fire, staring pointedly at Will. The armor he wore, and the jeans made him feel very out of place, but he dealt with it as Trefa introduced him to all the children. But before she'd began, the oldest looking girl caught his eye. She was blond, just like the rest of the women in Rohan, but it was the most beautiful color of blond Will had ever set eyes on. It held a small mixture of brown, just enough to be called 'dirty blond' back at home. Her completion was pale enough to know that she spent most of her time inside, but enough time outside to give her skin a healthy look. Her build was slender, looking of that of any sixteen or seventeen year old girl, which is what she looked to be. But the thing that caught Will's attention the most were her eyes. They were a brilliant shade of green, richer in color then the greenest meadows he had ever seen. By the time he'd come out of his trance, Trefa had begun to introduce him to everyone. First she gestured to a man who looked about forty five, who sat upon a stool in the corner with a cane in his hand. He gave Will a small smile. "This is my husband, Mardo, son of Marte. He cannot speak, as Wormtongue had his tongue cut out for ' speaking unkind words about the direction of which Rohan was going' after our eldest son died about six months back."

After hearing these words, Will took a inaudible sigh of relief. Six months back. So it hadn't just happened, which would make life much easier.

"This one here," she said, gesturing to the boy on her shoulder, "Is Margo, and he's the youngest of the lot. Over there," she pointed to a small girl with a dirty dress on the opposite corner of the beautiful girl, "Is Marta, and she's about eight summers old. And those," she said, gesturing to two boys, exactly identical in size, and looks, "Are the twins, who are both eleven. Their names, from left to right are Marto and Marte. They act exactly the same, so don't mind getting them confused."

"Don't mind that mother-" one said

"Yes mother, it doesn't matter what anyone call us." Said the other

"Because you always label us as 'the twins'."

"But we're don't to the same things."

"We're not the same!" The said these words in perfect unison.

The room roared with laughter. It seemed the twins (I'm already labeling them, Will thought) were searching for separate identities, and were having some trouble in doing so.

The small boy on Trefa's shoulder woke with the noise, and asked his mother quietly what was going on.

Setting him down and pointing at Will, she said, "Margo, this is William, but just call him Will. He'll be staying here for sometime."

The boy squinted from sleep, and stared at Will for awhile. Then, pulling on his mother's skirts, he said, "He looks just like Marpe, Mother."

After this statement, not a word was spoken. Not even the fire cracked before Trefa finally broke the silence.

"Lets get you to bed, Margo. You've met Will, now come." She led him out of the room, and left the rest of them to their silence.

Will could tell everyone in the room except him had been effected by the words, and from the name, he could only guess who Marpe was.

She returned a few minutes later, a smile once again upon her face. "Back to introductions now! This here is Marwa. She's twelve-"

"I'll be thirteen in less then a week Mother!" Marwa said, her face turning bright red in protest anger. Clearly she wanted to grow up faster then the rate at which it was happening.

"But a week isn't here yet, a so you're still twelve. Marfe is fifteen," she said, pointing to young man sitting between the twelve year old and his sister, the last one to be named. He seemed to be the quiet sort, and when his mother spoke his name, he did not lift his head to meet Will's eyes.

"And lastly, the eldest is Marya, whom is sixteen years of age."

So Marya was her name. And it was a beautiful name to match a beautiful young women. Her eyes came up to meet his, and she smiled slightly.

"Well, it is late, and it is best to get you all to bed now. Come, I will show you where you shall sleep Will."

Everyone on the floor stood up, preparing to go to bed. Will followed Trefa to the other room. There appeared to only be three rooms in the house; one for the children, one for the parents, and one as the living space.

The room to which he was led was small, with three beds cramped into it. The girls all took one, and the boys split up on the two, one boy joining the already sleeping Margo, the other two choosing the other bed.

"Here, Will, you can sleep with Margo and Marfe." she said, patting the bed. "Good night, children, I love you all." She said, before leaving the room.

Will quickly removed his armor from him body, and lay down on the edge of the bed, next to Margo. One of the girls blew out a candle after everyone was in bed, and the only light source remaining was that which streamed in through the window from the nearly full moon.

Sleep did not come easy for Will. He lay there, trying not to toss and turn too much for fear of disturbing the peaceful sleep of others. His mind kept wandering. The thoughts of the battle, Gandalf and Aragorns' words, the thought of having to go to Pellinor Fields... but most of all he thought of Marya. Her beautiful eyes kept crossing between his eyes and eyelids as he tried to convince sleep to take him.

After at least two hours of trying to sleep, Will stood from the bed, put on the boots Eomer had given him, and walked out to the main room, where the fire was dieing. Finding no comfort there, he continued his walk out into the chilled night air.

The moon danced brightly up above him as he sat down on the stairs leading to the families home.

He sat in silence for a few minutes, body leaning up against a wooden pillar that helped to keep the small home standing.

His eyes finally shut, he felt sleep begin to over take him while thoughts of Marya flew through his mind. It was funny, he'd spoken not even one word to her, yet he felt as if he'd known her a life time.

"I heard you get up and leave..." A soft female voice spoke from behind him. Will quickly turned to see Marya standing in the door way, leaning against the side of the door.

"I couldn't sleep." he said, turning around when he saw her begin to walk towards him, and take a seat next to him.

"Me neither. I haven't been able to sleep much for the last few years. Mother says it's because I think too much, and I think she's right. For when I try and sleep is the only time I'm free to think of what I wish to think of. There is no worrying about chores or taking care of anyone or anything but my own thoughts. Only when I'm happy with the day do I sleep at night."

Will turned to look at her. Though the moonlight did not show color, it did show the brightness in her eyes at that moment.

"I can't sleep because my mind is reeling with thoughts as well. But they are thoughts I cannot speak of, how ever much I wish to-"

"Well, my dear Will! What was the point in saying that! You knew any curious person would ask you what it was you cannot tell them after you mention it aloud! And, I am a curious person, whether you knew that or not, the fact is, now I want to know!" A smile played across her features, if only for a moment.

Will chuckled lightly. It was true. He would have done exactly the same thing in her position.

"So tell me, William," she grinned, knowing that he did not like being called his full name, but Will didn't really mind her using it. "Where is your family? Obviously they do not dwell in Edoras, so where is it in Rohan they live?"

Will turned his head away from her for a moment and faced the view of the mountains. Their snow glittered brightly as if trying to put on a show.

"I am from a land so far away you cannot even begin to imagine it's distance. And my family… both of my parents died back when I was ten years old. Neither one had any family, so I was shoved into an orphanage. I ran away when I turned sixteen, or about a year and a half ago. No ones seen me since."

"You don't have any family back home? None at all?"

"Listen, I don't want you to feel all sorry for me, I really don't. It's just something I've accepted and tried to move on with. It's the way things are, and it can't be changed."

"I do feel sorry for you, but I can't change that. But that's not why I'm asking. I really want to know." she said all this in a delicate, half whisper, as if knowing that the wrong words could spark a temper.

"I'm sorry. Back home the families that tried to make me their son felt nothing but pity for me, and I'm just used to that being what everyone feels for me."

"It's alright," she said, just as delicately as before, and slipping her arm in around his she leaned her head against his shoulder. "These times of war are difficult; we both know that."

"That we do."

"And though it was seem very awkward to say this, as I've just met you…"

"Marya…"

"You feel the same, don't you." It was not a question, but he answered it none the less.

Turning his head to look down upon the top of her, he spoke softly, "Though I have met you less then four hours ago, the moment I stepped inside your home I saw you sitting there, I knew I could speak with you for hours on end, about nothing more then the clouds above us or the stars in the sky if only to hear the voice I had not yet heard. I saw your eyes and suddenly I couldn't breath anymore. Your mothers voice was no longer heard in my head. All I could think about was the girl in front of me who's name I had yet to learn…"

Marya looked up at Will, her chin resting on his shoulder, her eyes meeting his, "And I the same. For when you entered my home, I no longer heard the breath of the chilled wind, nor the crackling of the fire. I must say I do not believe in 'love at first sight', but this is a possibility for change."

Will chuckled ever so slightly. Her face was now less then two inches from his, and he could feel her warm breath upon his face.

"And would you deny me to lean in a little closer?"

"No, I would not."

And with the moon beginning to set behind them, their eyes shut and lips met.

A/N- I know.. Sappy 'luv at first sight,' but leave me be!! At least this chappys longer then the others!! Give me a break. And once I got this one going, It came out quite fast and surly enough, the only delay in it was the fact that im a slow typer. Please review… its what'll get the chapters posted faster.